Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has spoken for nearly 20 hours in an attempt to "make D.C. listen." He still has three hours to go before he completes his extraordinary speech, and his every word can be watched online through free live stream via the video player provided below.

(Photo: Reuters)

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

The senator has promised to speak until he can no longer stand, in what is technically not a filibuster, because Cruz won't stop the upper chamber from proceeding with a vote on the House continuing resolution to keep the government running after Oct. 1

Cruz can speak until Wednesday morning, in what will be a very symbolic speech, which has drawn extensive attention to his cause and indeed himself.

"Washington depends on the American people not paying attention," Cruz said on Tuesday.

Cruz, who is going against many of his republican colleagues by carrying out his speech, ultimately wants to defund Obamacare, and believes he is fulfilling his own promise to voters in taking his stand.

Of course, if Congress does not come to an agreement, the government will shut down at the end of September. However, most analysts believe an 11th hour agreement – as has happened in the past – will be the ultimate conclusion.

Cruz has said during his marathon speech that he is fighting against Obamacare to insure "that the American people have a voice."

He added that his fight is "insuring that those who are struggling, those who are without a job, those who are afraid about losing their health insurance, that Washington listens to them. That Washington acts on their needs."

Cruz has also commented on Twitter: "Stop the Senate from using procedural tricks to fund Obamacare," he wrote on Tuesday. "Call your Senators and #MakeDCListen: http://www.makedclisten.org."

The following hashtags have also been seen trending at various points on Twitter: #TedCruz, #MakeDCListen, #StandWithCruz and #DefundObamacare.